화학공학소재연구정보센터
Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.86, No.11, 2887-2897, 2002
Rheological properties of ionically crosslinked poly(propylene)-type thermoplastic elastomers
Maleic anhydride was grafted onto poly(propylene) (PP)-type thermoplastic elastomer PER by reactive processing with a screw extruder and a maleated PER (MPER) was prepared. With the intent of ionic crosslinking, metal compounds such as aluminum stearate (AlSt), magnesium stearate (MgSt), calcium stearate (CaSt), zinc stearate (ZnSt), potassium stearate (KSt), sodium stearate (NaSt), magnesium hydroxide (MH), zinc oxide (ZnO), and zinc sulfide (ZnS) were added to the MPER and melt-mixed with the screw extruder, and crosslinked compounds were obtained. The degree of crosslinking estimated from the gel fraction was in the order AlSt, MgSt, CaSt, Znst > NaSt, KSt > MH > ZnO, ZnS > MPER. The rheological properties, such as capillary flow properties and dynamic viscoelasticities, of the compounds were measured and their melt processabilities were evaluated. The viscosity increased with increasing the content of the metal compounds and the increase was higher at the lower shear rate. The increasing effect of the viscosity at low shear rates was AlSt > Mgst > ZnSt > NaSt > KSt > MH > ZnO > ZnS > MPER. Namely, the viscosity increasing effect of the metal salt of stearic acid is the higher for the larger ionic charge and the viscosity increasing effects of other compounds are lower than those of the metal salts of stearic acid. Accordingly, by changing the kind and content of the metal compounds, the viscosity can be freely controlled. Considering also other rheological characteristics, these ionically crosslinked compounds are assumed to show ideal flow processabilities except for the extrudate appearance. To improve the appearance, it is necessary to dilute the compound with unmodified PER, PP, or fillers.